"And this is my Trigger," Bella explained as she picked up the stuffed puppy from the sofa. "He's been waiting for me to come home from school."

The entire car ride home, as well as the past ten minutes since they'd been home, had been like one big presentation for Bella; a chance for her to do what she did best; exaggerate. She'd dragged Katrina all over the house, pointing out just about everything she could think of in regards to what was hers and how she'd either made or acquired it. The macaroni necklace had clearly been more confusing than not if he was going by Katrina's facial expressions alone. The idea that such a thing was considered art was lost on her.

"Trigger? That's an interesting name," Katrina said as she sat beside Bella and touched the puppy.

"Aunt Abbie bought him for me and, since I couldn't talk yet, she named him." Bella smiled proudly. "He's my favorite thing in the whole world."

As he stood behind the counter, attempting to give them some space, but staying close all the same, he watched as Katrina's shoulders tensed at the mention of Abbie.

Well, at least it was Bella who'd mentioned it this time. By this point, he was beginning to come to the conclusion that Katrina would smile at just about whatever Bella said. However, that didn't stop his lingering apprehension. Taking the initiative to add to this moment, he moved to the living room and placed a Caprisun on the table for Bella. "Why don't you go change clothes, sweetheart?"

Her innocent face began to fall. "But daddy-"

"Go on," he said a little firmer, hoping she'd obey without argument. "We'll be right here."

Shoulders slumped, she dragged herself off the sofa and began trudging away as she'd been told.

Perhaps, he should right this one down as a trial overcome. It was a rare thing for her to obey so quickly.

"And don't forget to put it in with the dirty laundry," he called.

As soon as she was out of earshot, he turned back to Katrina who was staring at the place Bella had disappeared with a small smile. There was contentment in her eyes he found comfort in, but it wasn't enough to quell the nagging feeling in his chest. He gestured to the dog, which was now in Katrina's hands. "She loves that ratty thing."

"So, I can see," she whispered as she twisted her finger around a loose string.

"Then, perhaps, you can also see it's because of who gave it to her more so than the animal itself that makes it so important to her."

Katrina pursed her lips as she looked up at him, her green eyes piercing. "I understand, Ichabod."

He regarded her for a long moment before nodding. "I hope so because this is mine and Bella's life, Katrina. You're the one who has to fit in here."

With a chuckle, she tossed the dog onto the cushions beside her. "Are you going to be this short and suspicious of me at all times?"

"Abbie is a part of Bella's life and that's something you're going to have to accept." He crossed his arms. "I won't have you attempting to tarnish their relationship in any way."

"And what you have to accept," she said as she pushed herself to her feet. "Is that you no longer have any power." Gold-green hardened into steel. "You let me out of my cage and even now I can feel my magic growing. I can do whatever I want, go wherever I want, and there's nothing you can do to stop me."

He swallowed the knot in his throat as she stepped close enough to touch him.

"So, I suppose it's a good thing that I want nothing more than to be Bella's mother while peacefully existing with you as her father." She tapped his nose as her expression lightened significantly. "Now, stop worrying so much. You're far to handsome to give yourself wrinkles."

Shifting his feet, he attempted to gather his wit. How could he both fear and desire her all at once? Dropping his eyes to avoid any of her manipulation, he found himself staring at her green sun dress, which only prompted him to absorb how well it fit her. He was a doomed man if he didn't gather himself and display a firm front.

"She's a little girl with a great deal of hope. I don't want to see her hurt."

A heavy sigh slipped from her as she reached up and twisted the sleeve of his shirt between her fingers. "No one's going to hurt our little girl, Ichabod."

Her skin brushed his, sending a quiet thrill through his body. Every nerve responded to her touch, leaving him more confused than ever. He held no shortage of physical desire for her and that terrified him more than anything. If there was one thing he'd learned from their encounter in the cell, it was that Katrina still effected him on the basest of levels.

"Stop touching me."

Gold-green flickered up as a small smile eased over her face. It was so easy for her to flit between emotions.

"You say that and yet you don't move away." She took a step closer to him, her hands now at his waist and the warmth of her breath on his chin. "The truth is, you don't know what you want." One of her hands slid up his chest. "But the desire is there, written all over your face." Her fingers danced just beneath the collar of his shirt as she cupped the back of his neck. "The not so secret yearning you still harbor for me."

"Daddy, I'm hungry!" Bella yelled as she came running down the hall in her fresh t-shirt and sweats, oblivious to the rising tensions between her parents. "Can we have taco's?"

Hastily pushing Katrina away from him, he turned to his daughter, forcing what he hoped was a pleasant smile onto his face.

"Bella, I don't think-"

She grabbed a now smiling Katrina's hand as she stopped in front of her. "Do you like taco's, mommy?"

Katrina squinted and glanced up at him before shrugging her shoulders. "Uhm, I'm not sure. I've never...Is it a food?"

Bella's eyes widened to the size of quarters. "You've never had a taco!?"

Despite his still reeling mind, he chuckled at his daughter's astonishment and tapped her head before nodding to the kitchen. "Go wash your hands."

"Come on, mommy," Bella said, tugging Katrina behind her. "You, too."

As they both moved to the sink, giggling as they did so, he sighed.

"What have I gotten myself into?"

"Sweetheart, watch out, you're dropping it," he said as he pointed at the few pieces of lettuce now scattered over the floor.

From atop her special stool, Bella glanced down at the mess beneath her.

"Sorry, daddy," she said, showing all her teeth when she smiled at him.

Turning the burner to a lower setting, he playfully narrowed his eyes at her. "What am I going to do with you?"

Bella tapped her chin before her eyebrows jumped as if with a sudden realization. "Keep me?"

"Don't tempt me," he said as he continued stirring the meat.

With a giggle, Bella went back to tearing the lettuce.

"Your house is very nice," Katrina said, as she set down the knife she'd been using to slice tomatoes. "When did you leave the cabin?"

"Bella get the cheese and sour cream and set it on the table."

Dropping her chore, Bella placed her hands on her hips, her eyes narrowed. "Manners, daddy."

Oh, for the love of all that was holy!

"Please?" he drawled out, exasperation lacing his voice.

Obviously satisfied, she hoped off her stool and hurried to the refrigerator.

When he turned back around, he met Katrina's curious eyes with a shrug.

"After you told me about..." He dropped his gaze to the meat, not wishing to bring up the day he'd learned he was to be a father. "I managed to acquire a job at the museum due to the fiasco with the museum running off a few of the previous employees. It paid better than any other job I could've acquired at the time."

"That's fortunate."

Meeting her eyes again, he noticed her fidgeting with the edge of a napkin.

He knew what she was thinking. The night they'd solved the case at the museum had been the night they'd chosen to move forward with their lives together. It also stood a good gamble at being the night Bella was conceived.

"Done, daddy," Bella said as she ran up and grabbed Katrina's hand. "Come on, mommy. Sit by me."

Katrina smiled as she allowed Bella to lead her to the table.

Internally groaning at how much attention was going to Katrina, he scraped the meat onto a plate and brought it to the table.

"Don't touch it, alright?" He placed a plate in front of Bella. "It's hot."

While Bella bounced in her seat in anticipation as he fixed her taco, he glanced at Katrina to see her watching what he was doing intently, slight confusion lacing her features.

"Do you need help?"

Her eyes shot to his, the green wide and startled.

"Oh, I-" She shook her head. "No, I believe, I understand."

"How come you haven't eaten taco's before, mommy?" Bella bit into hers and mumbled, "Don't they have Taco Bell's where you were?"

"Bella," he warned before handing her a napkin to clean up the crumbs she was dropping.

She cut her eyes at him ashamedly. "Sorry."

Katrina smiled as she set a napkin in her lap and shifted to better face Bella.

"No, there weren't any..." She frowned as though chewing the words. "Taco Bell's."

"That's weird," Bella said with a shrug of her shoulders.

"Aren't you forgetting something, Bella?" he asked, an eyebrow raised.

Her green eyes swiveled to him. "I don't think so."

He nodded to her plate and held out a hand, hoping she would take the hint.

"Oh," she squealed, setting her taco down and taking his hand before reaching out for Katrina's. "We have to pray, mommy."

Katrina's eyes danced from Bella to his.

With a sigh, he held out his hand toward her and watched her eyes linger over the gesture for a moment before she accepted it. The touch of her skin to his once again left him reeling with a racing heart. If he hadn't already felt the sensation when she'd been locked away without magic, he might have thought she was casting some sort of spell over him.

"Thank you, Lord, for our taco's," Bella began, her little fingers squeezing his larger ones. "And our day and for mommy coming home. Amen."

Smiling at her quick prayer, he opened his eyes and found Bella already lifting her taco, an action he soon followed, while watching Katrina do the same, curiously wondering if she would like them.

The way her eyes widened at the first bite had both he and Bella chuckling.

"Do you like it, mommy?"

Katrina nodded and held a hand over her mouth as she chewed. "Yes, it's wonderful."

Evident relief settled over Bella. "Good, because taco's are my favorite."

He scooped up his extra lettuce and filled his taco, which was crumbling to pieces. Why did these things refuse to cooperate? "We eat taco's at least once a week."

"What's your favorite food?" Bella asked as she sat up on her knees to better lean over her taco.

Katrina, who seemed to be trying to figure out how to keep her taco together, glanced up at Bella. "Oh, I, uhm, I don't really have a favorite."

Before he'd thought better of himself, he heard the question tumbling form his lips. "You used to crave apples."

Her eyes flickered up at him, slight surprise shining in them.

Perhaps, he supposed, she'd forgotten his eidetic memory, or maybe she was just surprised he'd spoken his thoughts aloud. Either way, his utterance of something familiar and personal seemed to lighten her spirits considerably. It was as though he'd given her permission to acknowledge that they'd once been in love and in tune with the other's simple joys and preferences.

He wasn't sure if he was comforted by that or not.

"Yes." She turned back to Bella with a smile. "Apples."

Bella screwed up her nose. "Apples? Yucky!"

Katrina chuckled, her eyes shining as they danced over Bella. "I take it you're not fond of them?"

"No way!" Bella rolled her eyes. "But daddy makes me eat them."

He sighed, not wishing to delve into this repetitive argument. If they'd been over it once, they'd been over it a thousand times. "They're good for you."

"Madison doesn't like them either," Bella said as she tilted her head up, defiance all over her beautiful face. "And her daddy doesn't make her eat yucky apples."

"Well, Madison's daddy is a-" He paused and took a deep breath before smiling. "Madison isn't going to be as healthy as you."

Bella appeared dissatisfied with his answer as she took another bite of her taco.

"Who's Madison?" Katrina asked as she wiped her mouth. "Your friend?"

"My best friend," Bella said as she finished off her taco. "I went to her birthday party last week and I was the only one she wanted to spend the night with her."

Clearly amused, Katrina smiled. "Is that so?"

"Mhm, but I wasn't about to stay there."

"Why not?"

Bella shook her head. "Because she had a clown at her party and that thing freaked my skin out."

When Katrina only frowned, he explained, "Bella isn't fond of clowns. They make her skin crawl."

Understanding brought back Katrina's smile, one he hadn't thought could get any larger.

"He tried to give me a balloon, but I told him to take a hike cause my daddy told me to never accept anything from strangers and he was way strange, like so strange he was the strangest thing I ever saw."

"You're being dramatic," he said as he reached for another taco.

"I wonder who she inherited that from?" Katrina asked with a grin.

He caught her amused expression and shook his head. "I haven't the faintest."

"Aunt Abbie says you're a trippy drama queen," Bella said matter of factly, her nose turned up at him. "And that you spit me out of your butt." She shrugged. "I don't know what that means, but it sounds gross."

He rolled his eyes. "I'm going to have to have a serious conversation with your Aunt Abbie the next time I see her."

"Whatever you say."

Taking in Bella's taco juice covered mouth, he pushed back his seat.

"Alright, young lady," he said as he picked up his and her plate. "Time for a bath."

"Can mommy do it?"

Meeting her hopeful eyes, he stared at her in surprise. "What?"

Bella shrugged, her small shoulders bobbing. "Mommy's a girl."

Eyes narrowed, he leaned close. "Every time Aunt Jenny tries to give you a bath, you throw a fit for me."

As if he wasn't understanding, Bella grabbed his face and said with a serious voice. "You're still my favorite, daddy."

He wasn't sure whether to cry or laugh.

Standing back up, he glanced at Katrina, who was watching them with a small smile.

If this was how it was to be, he wasn't so sure he was completely comfortable. Already, Katrina seemed to be quickly becoming Bella's center of attention.

"Alright, go on, then," he said, while pretending to pout. "I'll just clean up out here all alone."

Bella squealed as she jumped up and took Katrina's hand, not even pretending to care about his pitiful tone.

Over the next ten minutes, nothing but giggles floated down the hallway. As strange as it was, he found the sound to lighten his heart.

Though, he was still on edge with Katrina being here, he was truly thankful Bella was so happy. He supposed if it made her happy, then he couldn't be to put out that she appeared to enjoy Katrina's company so much. It was the first night after all. There was bound to be some measure of excitement involved in the meeting between mother and daughter.

His phone vibrated, drawing his attention. Upon picking it up, he found three new messages from Betsy. With a sigh, he leaned his elbows to the counter and propped his head in his hands.

He'd thought his life was done being complicated.

The closer bedtime had drawn, the more nervous he'd become as he only had two beds in his house. The third room was an office with which he now supposed he was going to have to do something else.

When he rounded the door frame into Bella's room, he found Katrina sitting on the bed's edge, speaking quietly with her.

"You don't have to be afraid," she said softly as she smoothed the blankets over Bella. "Nothing bad will happen."

"But it always does," Bella answered, Trigger clutched tightly in her arms. "I'm scared."

Katrina ran her fingers through Bella's hair. "Magic isn't bad, Bella. It's a gift. Watch."

He followed Bella's gaze as she looked up at the ceiling.

The glow in the dark stars attached to the ceiling began to glow brighter before they began changing colors as they shifted around one another.

Slightly riveted, he watched as they spelled out Bella's name before shifting into other various shapes.

"How are you doing that?" Bella asked as she sat up, her eyes fixated on the ceiling. "In your head?"

Katrina laughed as she twirled her fingers. "It's magic."

As he moved further into the room, Bella caught his eyes. "Daddy, did you see?"

Taking a seat across from Katrina, he nodded along with her excitement and said, "I did."

"It was so cool," Bella said, her eyes returning to the ceiling. "Can I do that, too?"

"One day," Katrina answered as she stared at Bella. "With practice."

"Cool," Bella giggled.

"Alright, little miss," he said, nodding to her pillow. "You've got school tomorrow."

She rolled her eyes as she flopped back against the bed. "I hate school."

"I know," he said, pulling the covers over her disgruntled little body.

As she got situated, a smile crept over her face; one that piqued his curiosity.

"What are you grinning at?" he asked with a chuckle. "I thought you were upset."

"I have a mommy and a daddy."

Well, if that didn't make his heart falter... Eyes falling to Trigger, he swallowed against the knot lodged in his throat. There was nothing he feared more than hurting his child through his own choices.

"You're gonna stay, aren't you, mommy?"

Unable to help himself, he glanced up at Katrina, who was nodding.

"I'll never leave you again, Bella." She leaned over and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "I promise."

"Good."

Clearing his throat, he stood and attempted to regain his composure.

"Alright," he whispered as he kissed her forehead. "Sleep well, sweetheart."

"I love you, daddy." She looked at Katrina and reached up to touch her hair, her small fingers twisting the long, red stands. "I love you, too, mommy."

Katrina nodded as she took Bella's hand in her own and pressed a kiss to it. "I love you more than there are stars in the sky."

Bella's eyes widened. "That's what daddy says."

Another smile crept over Katrina's face as she softly whispered, "I know."

"Go to sleep," he said as he reached over and tapped her bedside lamp, leaving the room with the glow of the night lights placed in every corner of the room.

Bella had a slight fear of the dark; one that had developed very early on and seemed to be going nowhere.

When Katrina walked past him, he asked, "Do you want me to leave it open?"

Bella's head popped up as she answered, "Please."

Smiling, he turned down the hallway and found Katrina fidgeting in the kitchen as she wiped at tears on her cheeks. It left him feeling unsettled, but he chose to be reassuring anyway. At least, she still had the ability to be moved by the emotions of others.

"She's really happy you're here."

She nodded and twisted her fingers against her stomach. "She's beautiful."

"She is," he whispered as he crossed his arms. "But how could she not be? We made her."

Katrina chuckled and leaned against the counter as she held his gaze. "We did."

Her focused gaze left him breathless and he was forced to tear his eyes from hers just to find some air. Getting caught up in Katrina's eyes was the last thing he needed to do. So, clearing his throat, he nodded down the hallway and began moving toward his bedroom.

"You can sleep here." He flipped the switch on and walked across the room, where he pushed open the bathroom door. "You'll have your own bathroom and shower. There're towels in the closet and a spare toothbrush below the sink."

When he turned around, he found her glancing around the room, her eyes flickering over the various pictures. "I hope this doesn't make Ms. Ross angry."

"Ms.-" Caught off guard, he cleared his throat again and frowned. "What makes you think-"

"The eyes in my head," she said, cutting him off as she turned back to him with a hard to decipher expression. "And the fact that I can read you better than anyone."

Shifting his feet, he avoided her gaze, feeling like he'd done something wrong. "Bella doesn't know anything about that and I'd like to keep it that way."

As a means of distraction, he moved to his dresser and began rifling through his drawers.

"You mean, you're keeping a secret?"

The flippant way she said it managed to get right under his skin.

"Damn it, Katrina," he whispered as he pulled out a shirt and his smallest pair of pajama bottoms. "Do you always have to be so-"

He spun to find her right behind him, invading his personal space in ways that had his heart pounding.

"Yes?"

The smirk on her face was all too knowing, forcing him to slip from between her and the dresser to gain some air.

"I don't want to bring anyone into Bella's life who might leave and hurt her." He sighed and handed her the clothes. "I'd think you would be appreciative."

"Of what?" she asked softly. "The fact that you have a secret lover instead of a public one? I don't care what you do in your private life, Ichabod." She nodded to the door. "Like I said before, my only concern is Bella."

Unsure of how to respond, and really not even sure he believed her due to the way she kept touching him, he shifted his feet again and chose to change the subject. "We'll get your other things as soon as we can."

"This is fine," she replied, setting the clothes on the bed. "And you don't have to worry about Bella tonight."

"I don't?"

"I'm in tune with her." She turned back to him. "If she begins to become restless, I'll know."

"That's good to know," he said with a nod. "But I'll likely still be worried."

She tilted her head. "As is your right."

"Well, I uhm." He began backing toward the door. "Goodnight."

"Leaving so soon?" She slipped one of her straps off her shoulder. "I wouldn't be opposed to you remaining here."

There was a twitch in an area he was desperate to ignore as she trailed her fingers over her collarbone to reach for the other strap.

"I-"

His mouth had gone completely dry. Everything was screaming for him to go to her; to touch and taste her the way he once had. How long had it been again? Nearly six years? And then before that, apart from a few passionate and all too pleasurable nights, over two centuries had gone by without her warmth.

As her dress hitched down ever so slightly, she said, "It's been so long since you last touched me."

She smiled and let the dress slip down her body where it landed in a puddle around her feet.

Knees nearly buckling, he stood stock still as she closed the distance between them, her brazenly exposed breasts drawing his gaze.

"I miss your hands on my skin."

"I- we-..." He shook his head as he fumbled for words; any words. "No."

"No?" she raised a teasing eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

Tearing his eyes from her all too alluring form, he locked his gaze on the ground. "Even if I wanted to, which I don't, I'm involved with Betsy."

"Are you fucking her?"

The bold and vulgar language she had never before used had his head jerking back up. "What?"

"You must be if you're refusing me." She tilted her head, her calculating eyes studying him. "The possessiveness and desire was clear on her part, but I saw no such thing from you. I know how much you like being inside me, Ichabod. Do you think you'll ever find anyone you desire more than me?"

Stuttering over his words, he narrowed his eyes. "I thought you didn't care what I did in my personal life."

Coming to a stop just before him, Katrina smiled. "Just because I feel a certain way doesn't mean I want someone else touching the things that are mine."

Running a hand through his hair, he shook his head. "Please, stop trying to confuse me, Katrina. I want this to work."

"As do I," she whispered as she ran her hand over his chest. "And it will."

Heart thumping hard, he stared into her eyes. "I thought you hated me. I don't understand why you're acting this way."

"Surely, you know that love isn't required to make the act feel good?" She slipped her fingers under his shirt, trailing them across his skin, causing goose bumps to form in their wake. "Pleasurable?"

Her breath was now washing over his face.

"And you would know that, how?" He caught her wrist in his hand and jerked it back. "Is that another secret you've kept? Perhaps, you lied about how far you took your role as Abraham's captive."

Her body tensed as a frown came over her face; a seemingly genuine hurt clear in her eyes.

"You've been my only, Ichabod."

Oh, how he wanted to believe that. He'd give just about anything to know it for sure.

Breathing now more shallow, he became aware of the significant change that shifted between them. It was nearly tangible.

His fingers around her wrist loosened as he became completely compliant to her will. It wouldn't be the worst thing, would it? It was familiar; something they'd had no qualms about enjoying in their previous life. If anything, they'd ravaged each other every chance they'd had.

Her warm breath ghosted over his neck as she leaned in, her lips gently brushing his skin. The feeling had his hands on her hips before he could think better of himself, her soft flesh hot to the touch.

"Katrina..." he moaned, his cock suddenly feeling too restricted in his trousers.

Her hands were under his shirt again, caressing his skin. It was nothing compared to her lips as she burned a trail of kisses along his jaw, moving up and toward his mouth.

"Tell me you're mine," she whispered, her voice low and tempting. "That you miss me."

The words were on the tip of his tongue, but they never met air as his phone's ring had him jerking back as though scalded.

Fumbling to pull it from his pocket, he nearly dropped it when he saw Betsy's name plastered across his screen. If that wasn't a wakeup call, he wasn't sure what was.

Running a trembling hand through his hair, he shook his head. What was wrong with him? What happened to the firm front he'd been attempting to maintain? He knew what she was; what she'd done. How could he possible allow this?

"I do desire you," he whispered as he turned to face her. "You're beautiful, the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, and I'd have to be blind, deaf, and dumb not to want you and, even then, it would be difficult." Her eyes followed him, watchful and calm. "I've welcomed you into my home, Katrina, despite all my reservations and doubts, and I want you to find happiness here with Bella, but that's the extent of what I want from you. I'd appreciate it if you respected that."

Not waiting for a response, and honestly not sure he could handle one, he pulled the door with him as he stepped out. "Goodnight, Katrina."

With a heavy sigh, he ran a hand down his face and moved toward the couch where he'd already spread himself a blanket.

As he settled down, he attempted to find a comfortable position and eventually found himself staring at the ceiling. What a day this had been. He only hoped it wasn't a day he'd come to regret. With Katrina out and about, his life and everyone in it was bound to shift in some fashion or another whether he wanted it or not.

"Please, let her be happy."

However, for the life of him, he couldn't determine to which of the girl's in his house he was referring.

Next up: A morning with the Crane's. Abbie finds out.